The Eisner Award, often referred to as the "Oscars of the comic book industry," was established in 1988 and is named in honor of the legendary cartoonist Will Eisner, a pioneer of the graphic novel format. Administered by Comic-Con International, the award celebrates creative achievement in American comic books and graphic storytelling. Its purpose is to recognize outstanding work across a wide range of categories, including Best Writer, Best Artist, Best New Series, and more, spotlighting both established professionals and emerging talent. The Eisner Awards are given annually, with winners announced during a high-profile ceremony at San Diego Comic-Con each summer. The awards not only honor artistic and literary excellence but also help elevate the status of comics as a serious and diverse storytelling medium.
Reading List
Please read:
If you choose to explore this award, please select three books from the list below. You will be responsbile for sharing these books with your classmates as part of our module discussion.
Don't forget, you can learn a bit more about each book by checkout out our course inclusivity audit. Please also see my note about content warnings for specific titles.
⭐️ Jennifer Recommends: I've added stars to books that represent some of my favorites. You should feel no pressure to select titles that resonated with me.
⭐️ Huda F Wants To Know?
Huda Fahmy
2025
⭐️ Kirby’s Lessons for Falling (in Love)
Laura Gao
2025
The History of Everything
Victoria Evans
2025
⭐️ Lunar New Year Love Story
Gene Luen Yang & LeUyen Pham
2024
Renegade Girls
Nora Neus & Julie Robine
2025
⭐️ Pearl
Sherri L. Smith & Christine Norrie
2024
⭐️ Song of a Blackbird
Maria van Lieshout
2025
⭐️ Brownstone
Samuel Teer & Mar Julia
2024
Strange Bedfellows
Ariel Slamet Ries
2025
Fall In Love, You False Angels
Coco Uzuki
2025
⭐️ Homebody
Theo Parish
2024
Rebis: Born and Reborn
Irene Marchesini & Carlotta Dicataldo
2025
The Deep Dark
Molly Knox Ostertag
2024
⭐️ Hunger's Bite
Taylor Robin
2025
X-Men: The Manga
Hiroshi Higuchi et al
2024
⭐️ The Flip Side
Jason Walz
2025
A Wizard of Earthsea: A Graphic Novel
Ursula K. Le Guin & Fred Fordham
2025
Just Another Story
Ernesto Saad
2024
Want to read something that is not on this list?
If you would like to swap a book from this list for one of your own choosing, you must:
Contact Jennifer (via Canvas) at least a week in advance with your suggested swap. Remember! In order to qualify for substitution, the book you select must:
qualify for the given award
have been published in the previous 24 months
be written for a YA audience
Keep in mind that some books appear on multiple award lists.